Sandakan: Defence assets in Sabah will be increased according to allocation under Budget 2019, said Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu (pic).He said details on the matter would be reviewed from time to time, adding that allocation for the Defence Ministry would not be reduced so that current assets could be properly maintained.

"The assets that are already old will be replaced according to our capabilities," he told reporters after the Sabah Amanah convention, here, Sunday.

Mohamad said he took Sabah-related matters, including security concerns and tourist safety, seriously.

"There have been attempts (criminal elements) but with the joint security patrols involving Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines at the border, there are less threats now," he said, adding generally the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) had been peaceful.

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Meanwhile, Muslims in Malaysia are reminded to be cautious and not to be easily swayed by racial and religious sentiments being played up by supporters of the former government.

Mohamad said the group had intentionally used this method to appeal to Muslim sentiments, thus diverting people's attention from their leaders' corruption issues.

"We (Pakatan Harapan) have just taken over the administration for six months and there is no better way for them to rise immediately except through racial and religious issues.

"It is very easy to stoke sentiments through talks, so we have to be knowledgeable and careful," he said in his speech at the Sabah Parti Amanah Negera (Amanah) convention.

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He said Malaysians should be aware of spillover effects of stoking such sentiments as experienced by some Muslim countries including Syria, Libya, Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan.

Mohamad added that he raised the subject to make people realise that the recent incident over the temple in Selangor had nothing to do with racial issue and the matter could be resolved amicably but there were people who took advantage of the situation to incite racial sentiments.

Meanwhile, he expressed hope that Pakatan Harapan leaders would be transparent and honest in their dealings to win over the hearts of people at the grassroots level.

Mohamad also reminded Pakatan Harapan member parties not to be contented with the GE14 victory but to work together and continue to remain united.. - Bernama